Major corporations are frequently attacked by hackers, so with a thriving customer base, it's no surprise that Spotify is a target for cybercriminals too. One such data breach meant that millions of Spotify users had their account credentials leaked.
If you suspect that your Spotify account has been compromised, here's what you have to do to check and how to secure your Spotify again.
How to Check if Your Spotify Account Was Hacked
There are several ways that you can verify your account security, from observing your app history to checking your settings.
Not Recognizing Recently Played Music on Your Spotify Home
A prominent tell for music lovers that someone has been messing with their Spotify account is not recognizing the music that was supposedly recently played.
Found on your Spotify home page, this method only requires a bit of observation. If there are songs or playlists that you do not remember playing, it should quickly ring a few alarm bells.
Playlists Being Added or Going Missing on Spotify
For Spotify users who love creating playlists, spending hours to make the perfect curation is perfectly normal. When your favorite home brew suddenly goes missing, someone may be tampering with your hard work.
Alternatively, playlists suddenly appearing on your Spotify profile can be annoying, especially when they just do not fit your taste. But don't pass them off as a mere annoyance: this is a further sign that another party has access to your account.
Spotify Music Playing Randomly
With integrated Spotify controls, you can pause, play, and forward songs from devices linked to your account. Sudden skips, pauses, or stops may be a sign that someone else is vying for control.
Spotify Notifications About Logins
Besides the subtle clues from your listening profile, Spotify also alerts users when it detects suspicious activity.
If you receive emails about logins that you do not recognize, check it right away: it could just be your VPN causing troubles, for instance, or it could be another person trying to access your account.
Check Your Spotify Subscription Changes
To know if a hacker is enjoying your Spotify subscription from the comfort of their own account, you can check your subscription information. First, look for any anomalies in your Spotify payment receipts.
Click Profile > Account > Receipts on the left-hand side of the screen. From here, you can see if there is a sudden change in the subscription price.
Alternatively, you may also check your subscription by going to Profile > Account > Your Plan. If you are a Solo Premium User suddenly charged a Spotify Duo or Family rate, your account may have been compromised.
Spotify Email or Password Not Working
If you find yourself logged out of your account, immediately check if your email address and account password still work. Once you lose access to both of these things, you know that a hacker is intending to take over your account.
Check Apps Connected to Your Spotify
If you suspect that apps you did not authorize are connecting to your Spotify account, select Profile > Account > Apps. Should you find any unauthorized applications here, someone else is likely using your account.
What to Do If Your Spotify Account Was Hacked
Once you have identified that your Spotify account has been compromised, there are several things that you must do to secure it again.
After logging onto Spotify Web, here is a quick list of what you should do to save your account.
Log Out All Devices Connected to Spotify
If you still have access to your account, the first thing you should do is remove access from all connected devices. To do this, go to Profile > Account. Then scroll to the bottom of the screen and select Sign Out Everywhere.
Secure Your Spotify Email Address
Should you suspect that the hacker got your login details from a compromised email address, make sure to secure your email account first. If the hacker changed the email address associated with your Spotify account, you should reverse this immediately.
To change the email address associated with your Spotify account, go to Profile > Account > Edit Profile. Then, type your new email address, Spotify account password, and click Save Profile.
Alternatively, you may also change your Spotify-linked email address by using your mobile device. From the Spotify app on your smartphone or tablet, tap the Settings > Account > Edit next to Email. From here, input your new email address and account password before confirming.
Create a Stronger Password
It should come as no surprise that one of the most common reasons for hacked Spotify accounts include having a weak password.
Change your old Spotify password into a stronger one by going to Profile > Account > Change Password. After typing in your new password twice and your old password once, select Set New Password.
Disconnect Apps and Social Media Accounts
Click Profile > Account > Apps. From there, select Remove Access next to any suspicious apps that you did not permit access to your Spotify information.
Recover Playlists
To recover deleted playlists, go to Profile > Account > Recover playlists.
Choose the playlist you want to be recovered and select Restore. Within a few minutes, you will be able to see this on your Spotify account.
Contact Spotify Support
For Spotify users who have lost access to their email addresses and passwords, the last option you have to regain access to your account is to go to Spotify Support.
Once you are at the support page, select Logging In > Someone’s taken over my account > I still need help and fill-up the form to speak with the Spotify Support Bot. You will need to provide several proofs of identity like paid invoices or bank statements to regain account access.
Keep Your Spotify Account Safe
Protecting your Spotify account requires a combination of creating a secure ecosystem of accounts, passwords, and devices.
Keeping your account safe may seem like a lot of work, but getting access to it again is also a handful. When it comes to security for any account, taking the time to keep yourself safe is worth it for peace of mind.